Combination science table



June 5f 1945. B. T.Acol.| |Ns COMBINATION SCIENCE TABLE Filed Dec. 29, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 1 June 5. 1945. YB. T. COLLINS Vc;oMINA'rIcm SCIENCE TABLE Filed Dec. 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jne ,5, 1945. B. T COLUNS 2,377,539

coMBINATIoN sommen TABLE Filed Dec. 29; 1941 V5 sheets-sheet s B. T. COLLINS "coMBINATIoN SCIENCE TABLE June 5, 1945.

Filed Decz. 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @woe/who@ COLL/Ns June 5, 1945. B. 1'; COLLINS COMBINATION SCIENCE TABLE Filed Dec. 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @may Patented June 5, 1945 e UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE f A d 2,377,539 .e l COMBINATION SCIENCEy TABLE .l `Burton T. Collins, Eureka,` `Utah e Application December 29, 1941, serial No. 424,836

3 oiaiins. 01..155-123) y d My invention relates to new and useful improvements in combination `science tables adapted for use in schoolrcoms or other places and the principal'object of the invention resides in thev provision of a table of the character described including what might be termed a cabinet portion and adjustable or slidable chairs or seats and desks or tables adapted to be normallypositioned within recesses or compartments formed in the cabinet portion, but adapted to be moved to positions outside of the cabinet portion for use by the students.

Another` object of the invention consists in `novelmeans for mounting the chairs or seats and desks `or tables relative to the cabinet portion whereby the chairs or seats and desks or tables may be readily slid into recesses or compartments within the cabinet portion or slid therefrom to positions outside of the cabinet portion, the

mountings being of such a character that slidable cabinet portion on the line 5--5 in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 6 isa horizontal section on the Cline 6-5 of Fig.` 3 looking l of Fig. mocking in the direction of thearrows.

chairs or seats and desks or tables may be positioned on opposite `sides of the cabinet portion and when slid into position within the recesses `ofthe cabinet portion certain parts thereof may overlap thereby providing a relatively compact lstruction, and arrangement `of parts,` described inthe following specification vand illustrated `in the accompanying drawings,` and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodi- `ments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may l bel made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims. 'p

In the drawingsl Fig. 1 is a top plan showing the slidable `seats Figd'? is a fragmental detail showing a portion of one of theslidable seats and one of the mountings therefor.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig; '7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan of the' construction shown in Fig. 7 withparts shown inhorizontal section.

Figs. 10 and `11 are detailsshowing a modiiied form of my invention in which the back of the seat is adapted for swinging movement into vertical or horizontal position.

vI` am well aware that* combination science tables have been in use for some considerable time and such tables have been provided with a stationary desk or desks and chairs have been provided for use by the student or students working on the desk or desks. With a construction such as this the desks always project from the table,4 or what might be termed `the cabinet portion thereof, and often the chairs orseats, provided for the student, are not of the proper height relative to the desk. With the construction which -I provide the seats or chairs are of the proper size or height relative to the height of the desks or tables and when not in use the chairs and desks may be positioned within the recesses or cornpartments in the cabinet portion so that chemicals cannot be spilled on them, when the student and desks or tables in extended position relative l 1 to the cabinet portion, l

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cabinet portion with parts positioned as shown in Figrl.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the slidable seats and desks or tables in position -within'the recesses is using the top of the cabinet portion as a work tableiand they will not be in the way of the stu- 35 f dent or students so working. The seats or chairs and the desks or tables do not extend above the cabinet portion may be dropped or lowered relative to the top of the `cabinet portion so as not to obstruct the View of the students.

l In thedrawings, particularly in Figs.. 1 and 2 thereof, I have illustratedwhat might be termed asingle unit, each unit including a cabinet portion, two desks or tables, and two seats or chairs.

,When desired a plurality of these units maybe B and B indicate slidable desks or tables posil tioned at opposite sides of the cabinet portion A and C` and C indicate slidable seats or chairs at opposite sides of the cabinet portion and adapted to be positioned relative to the desks or tables B and B', as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In these Figs. 1 and 2 the desks or tables B and B', as well as the slidable seats or chairs C and C' are shown in what might be termed extended position relative to the cabinet portion A, but it will be understood that they are adapted to be slid into recesses or compartments 'within the cabinet portion A, as shown more particularly in' iFifgs; 3.74, '5siand"6 of the drawings. "The cabinet'portion A is'pr'vided with a sink a, water faucets b, gas cocks c and vacuum exhaust pipe connections d all of which are of Well-known construction for usesin': connection with science tables and a further detailed description thereof is not thought necessary.

Drawers are slidably mounted inseachvsidexof the cabinet A, the drawers I and 2 ateach side being slidable upon a plate 3 and positioned'liiust beneath the `top of thecabinetfportion A as shown more particularly inLEig. 43.. of .the-ldrawings. ...'A drawer `Il, at each-side of the .cabinet,7.is s'lidably mounted.-ina casing-or housing.5,.drawers 6. and I.are.slidablyanounted inacasing or. housing 8 and drawers 9,10 and .I I-. arewslidablymounted in a casing or housing I2. The casingsorhous- .ings k8 `and I2..are. suitably. supported onthe-base `foundation of the cabinetvA and may be secured mthereto through the medium of nut .andbolt-:as-

tenings `or,..if desired, .by-a. welding` process. vThe l outer .walls .oi the 4casing .or .housing 5 .and-.casing or. housing'8-arespace d from,,the front Wall .or face I3 y of Avthe A.cabinet-MA .to...pro`vide-.the =verti cally extending recessV or.compartment` I-4.extend ing along` the side y.ofthe drawer I The l.outer wallof the .casingor housing `I2 `fis -spaced from the rear ywallf|5 .of the vcabinet Ato :provide-.the vertically extendingrecess :or-compartment 15. .Thelinner walls of thefcasings orfhousings5 and -8- arespaced from-theinner Wall of the 'casingbr housing l2 `to provide ,the :vertically extending .recessor vcompartment J1. .Theffbottom of the Lcasing or housing 5 isspaced from thetopsof .the casing onhousing -itozprovidelthelrecess or comfpartrnent |53 Aand ythe. bottom of/theA plate 3-is spaced fromthe .top of-the .casing` or housing I2 4.to provide'. theY recess loncompartment -|9 AUI 20 and 2 I.I have provided respectively.' relatively sha1- `low-and `vnarrow drawers for fdesiredvusesi of the students. :It pwill beflunderstoodfthat `=each= side of `the cabinet-:portion A-is of lthe fsame :formation as .shownin Figasand' the recesseslor compartments at one side willfcomrn'unicate-withfand ment I'I in alignment with the recess or compartment I9.

The outer ends of the guides 22 and -24 are formed with a depending notch or recess indicated at 3|. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings the inner ends of the guides 23 and 25 overlap the inner ends of the guides 22 and 24, and the outer ends of the guides 23 and25 are bent downwardly, as shown, and -are-iprovidedfw'ith thedepending recesses 32 cor- -respondingto the recesses 3|. By bending the outer ends of these guides 23 and 25 downwardly 'theywill lie on the same plane as the outer ends -fof:-the'guides'i 22 and 24 so that when the chairs or seats C and C are in their extended positions o *they iwillbe of the same height. The chairl or ..seat.C..is slidablymounted relative to the cabinet portion A by the guides 23 and 25, whereas the chairor seat C is slidably mounted relative to the .cabinetportion Alby. the` guides 22 4and 24. Each. f the chairs orseats includes a pairof longitudinally` extending `horizontal arms 33, :a depending. leg portion 34er loopor ring forma- .tion,. as L shown more, particularlyr in` Fig. 3y of the drawings, .an vupwardly extendingl .back 35` and. a bottom or :seat '35. The arms'..33f.are `of.hol-1ow lformation .to receive telescopinglextensions .36, leach 'of 4the .extensions being provided with-a .transversely 'extending' boltbr.. shaft 31, carrying a.rller..38, .the rllersbein'gadaptedtobe received in the guides"22,"23, 24 and w25. Whenthelclfiairs .or `seats lare. in Vtheir extendedspositions for use the i.depending l' leg `.portionskSl will rest .on the floon .orfground .and .the rollers y38,` operating7 in lthe-guides22:.andf24,.will be received in -thebuter .dependingrecesses Q3 I .f .lthe ...guides 2 2 .andA 24, wh'ile the. rollers 8, `^operatingin the -guidesf23 yand'2 5,-.will'bereceived the depending recesses '.32 .o'ffthe. v guides 2 3,.:an'di25. fAs. has been .previously stated. the-curving ofthe outer ends of T the .guides 23 and 25 :permit: the Achairor-.seat -C .to .assume aryposition` on ai level .with the chain.v or seat .Cf Whenthebhairsor seats-.are not to-tbe used they =are slid relativer-tothe cabinet-portion -form a continuationof vthe .recessesor compartand' rpositioned 'in' the' recess oncom'partment I 6 in alignment with therecessor'compartimenti9,

are .thei'verticany spia-ced -icngituninauyrextendinglguides 2 e aria-2T which are respectiveiy, par, .alllWiththel/erticlly sliiac'edldgitudinally ex- Etending.'guideVs "=2`I3 andi 2,9' slipportedby. thebrackets'll v and p'os'itionfed fin .the recess -or compart- A to` assume .-.the..positions .shown morewparticularly:. in Figs. 3.. and l 4 of the .drawings -`When in .thesepositionsthe backs 35 and one longitudinally extending.: arm 33,. .of feachchair or'V seat, rwillibe received within the recess .or .compartment -.`I 4,

while theopposite `longitudinallyextending varmof each chairor seat will bereceived intherecessor .compartment I1. The depending legs-*34,-iof-lloop formation, will; surround. the. casing.A or. yhousing 8.- with. the upper horizontal :portion and `theseat :or: bottom 35...receivedin .the .recessor-.coinpart- .ment .-I 8,- one `vertical.portion will be. i're'ceived!V in `the: recess or compartment I4, and.-the,opposite vertical portion receivedinthe compartmentior .recess I l. Thelower. horizontal portion -of the .Y chair or seat. C- will be f received .in ZYthe :recess .'39` 'belowvthe casingr or. housing 28, Vwhilethe lower horizontal portion of the chair .orfseatC-,willwbe received within the recess 40. 1

`.'I.he..ftalc1es.or desks 'BeandnB ...are `fslidaloly -rnountedrelativefto4 the .cabinet portion- Aso that they may be extended to thevapositions,fshownf-in Fig. 1, for:.use, or theyf-rnaygbeconned within the cabinet portion. `Eachzof-the-.tables-.or desks tending portions 43 connected at their lower ends by the cross 'bar 44. Adjacent theirl inner ends the arms 4I, of the table or desk B, are provided with the rollers 45 operable in the guidesv 21 and 29. Adjacent their inner endsthe arms 4I, of the desk or table Byare provided with the rollers 46 operable in the guides 26 and 28. The inner ends of the guides 28` and 29 overlap, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and

the inner ends of the guides 26 and 21` are simi` larly overlapped. At their outer ends each of the guides 26 and 28 is formed with a depression 41, forming a recess for a purpose which will be` later brought out, and adjacent their outer ends the guides 21 and 29 are curved downwardly as shown at 48 and terminate in a depressed portion forming a recess 49`on a level with the recesses 41 formed in the guides 26 and 28. When the tables or desks B and B' are in their extended positions, shown more particularly in Figs. l

and 2 of the drawings, the rollers 46, on the arms 4I of the table or desk B', will be received in the depressedrecesses 41 of the guides 26 and 28, while-the rollers 45'on the arms of the table or desk B will be received in the depressed recesses 49 of the` Vguides 21 and 29. By `curving the guides 21 and 29 downwardly, at their outer i ends, whenthe tables or desks are extended for use, the desk B will be on a level or at thesame` height as the-table or `desk B. When the `tables or desks are not to be used they may be slid inwardly relative to the cabinet portion A, the rollers 45 and 46 moving in their respective guides.

chance of` displacing the tables or desks and `chairs or seats and they will always be in proper position for use by the studentsor to be slid into the confines of the cabinetportion. As I have stated in the objects of my invention, I am well aware that tables or desks and seats or chairs have been provided for the use of students in connection with science tables `in the school rooms, but so far as I am aware, it is new with me to provide a table of the character described o in which the students desksior tables,as wellas the chairs or seats are connected` to the cabinet When slid inwardly into the cabinet portion the table` or desktops 42 will be received in the re-` cess `or compartment I9 as will also be the case with the horizontal arms 4I. The inner vertical portions 43, of the tables or desks, will be received within the recess or compartment I1, whereas the outer vertical portions 43 will be received within the recess or compartment I6. The cross-bar`44, ofthe table or desk B', will be received in the recess 39, as shown more particu` larly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, whereas thecross bar 44, of the `table or desk B, will be portion and are adapted for sliding movement When in the extended positions, t

relative thereto. t shown more particularly in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the chairs or seats are` properly positioned with respect to the tables `or desks and when it is desired to discontinue use of the chairs or seats and desks or tables they may be slid` towards and into the cabinet portion; For the sliding of the tables or desks and chairs or seats I haveprovided guides or novel formation and have positioned them so lthat the minimum` amount 'of space may be used. In the modied "formof chair or seat illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 ofthe drawings, I have provided a chair or` seat with a folding back and this may be advan-i tage'ousin some instances.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to` secure by Letter Patent is: i

1. A science table including la cabinet portion i having receiving passages for a desk and chair openingto each side of the 'cabinet portion, a

40 desk and chair at each side'of the cabinetporreceived in the recess 40, as shown quite clearly A in Figs. 4 and `5 of the drawings., i

In Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly modified form of chair or seat construction in which `the backs 35 are hingedly connected to the outer horizontal arms 33 positioned in the recess or compartment I4. For

t this purpose a 'casting 58 is mounted on each `of the outer-arms 33 and has an inwardly directedl lug or projection 5I to which a back `35 is pivotally connected `at `52. i The `top or seat portion of a chair or seat is illustrated at`l53 and corresponds to the tops oroseat portions 35' previously described. With this modified form of the invention, when desired, the backs 35 may be swung downwardly over the seator top portions 53 and when the chair or seats are posi-` tioned within the cabinet portion A will be re t, ceived within the compartment or recess I8.

From the above detailed description it is thought that the construction and advantages of` my improved form of science table will be apt, preciated and it will be seenthat I have provided,V

/a novel construction wherein the tablesor desks and chairs or seats used'by the students may be positioned within the cabinet portion when not in use and tests may be made on thecabinet portion without the fear of spilling chemicals on the workdesks or students chairs or seats. At the same time I have provided a construction chairs, means slidably connecting a chair and` `desk at each end of the cabinet portion, thetion, and means slidably` connecting thedesks' and chairs with the cabinet portion.' said means providing for vertical movement of one of the desks and chairs relativeto the other desk and chair the respective supportingportions of the desks and chairs when extended being at the same level, said desksand chairsbeing nested when moved into the cabinet portion.

2. A science table including a cabinet portion `having passages at opposite sides thereof to`ac` commodate cooperatively associated desks and slidable connections being in overlapping rela-` tionship interiorly of the cabinet portion said slidable means including means `forleveling the `supporting portions ofthe opposite chairs and desks when the tables and t desks are withdrawn from the cabinet.

operating desks and chairs, means slidably connectingeach desk and chair interiorly of the cabinet portion whereby each chair and desk may be withdrawn from the cabinet in a direction opwherein the desks or tables and chairs or seats will be of the proper height for use by the students and in connecting the desks or tables and `the chairs or seats to the cabinet portion for sliding` movement relative thereto there is no 3. A science table including a cabinet portion `open at opposite sides for the `reception of co- 

